Loop regulating mechanism for knitting machines



Dec. 22, 1931. v GASTRICH 1,837,214

LOOP REGULATING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 1', 1930. 2 meets-Sheet 1 41, fl] f I a a/ 22: {1 0' 235 I 5 FILE-QQZ- INVENTOR:

A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 22, 1931. G 5 7 1,837,214

LOOP REGULATING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: A Gusiavasinkig A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAV GASTRIOH, OF WYOMISSDTG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO TEXTILE MACHINE WORKS, OF WYOMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA LOOP BEGULATING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Application filed November 1, 1930. Serial 1T0. 492,834.

M invention relates. particularly to full fashioned knittin machines; and my mam object is to provi e an improved loop regulating mechanism therefor whereby deter- 5 mined changes in the length of the loops may be automatically effected, as controlled by pattern mechanism. The inventlon is fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiment thereof, and the novel features thereof are clearly defined in the subjoined claims.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front view showing the cam and loop regulating shafts of a. full fashioned knitting machine with my invention applied thereto, in connection with pattern-chain control means therefor; the usual needle-bar presser lever being also indicated.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; usual operating connections to the needle bar being diagrammatically indicated.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views of my loop-varying mechanism, taken respectively on the lines 33 of Fig. 1, and 4-4 of Fig. 3, with portions of the forked regulating lever broken away.

The drawings indicate certain immediately cooperating parts of a known full fashioned knitting machine, including cam shaft 10 and loop regulating shaft 4, in connection with presser lever 17 operatively connected to the needle bar 21 through lever 19; such general construction, and the general character of the loop regulating operation with which my present invention is concerned, being clearly set forth with fuller illustration thereof in Patent No. 1,417,289 issued'May 23, 1922, to the assignee of the present invention. It will be understood that the needle bar presser lever 17 is moved outward by cam 15, at each revolution of the cam shaft 10, againstthe action of spring 18; and that varied limitation of its inward swing as determined by adjustment of the loop regulating mechanism, varies the needle bar swing to change the knitted loops.

My present invention relates solely to im- 30 proved mechanism such as is fully illustrated in the drawings, for so adjusting the operative connections between the loop regulatin shaft 4, and the operating cam shaft 10 an operated needle bar 21, as to provide for easy and positive variation in the movement imparted to the latter, as required to effect determined variations in the knitted loops; and for making such determined adjustments automatically by pattern-controlled operations so as to permit of contlnuous knitting and insure uniformity of the product.

In the improved construction illustrated as embodying my invention, I employ as heretofore, both fixed and loose stop arms on the loop regulating shaft 4, with the loose arm 3 carrying a roller 8'which is pressed by spring 3 against the loop-length cam 9 on the cam shaft; the contact relation of this loose arm to the rocker arm 6 fixed on the shaft 4 being determinedly varied in my im proved construction, during continued operation of the machine under control of attern chain 32, as hereinafter. fully descri d. The variable positioning of loose arm 3 on rockable shaft 4, relative to rocker arm 6 fixed on said shaft, serves to corresponding ly vary the position of a pressure-lever stop 22 provided on a separate stop arm 23 fixed to shaft 4 as shown; and this correspondingly varies the spring-pressed inward swing of the presser lever to vary the length of the loops. My invention provides for positively varying this positioning of the loose arm 3 relative to fixed arm 6 as required for producing differing lengths of loops at different periods of the knitting operation, and for effecting such determined variations automatically by pattern controlled operation of the adjustab e contacts provided on the abutting arms 3, 6. It will be understood that the spring-pressed inwardswing of the presser lever 17 will be limited as determined by contact with stop 22 on arm 23 fixed to shaft 4, though the maximum outward swing of lever 17 by cam 15 is constant; and that the loop-length cam 9 determines adjusted setting of said stop 22 by rocking shaft 4 in accord with the adjusted positioning of loose a-Irlmft3 relative to rocker arm 6 fixed to said s a The .ad'ustable contact devices illustrated between loose arm 3 and fixed arm 6 on shaft 4, comprises a screw-adjusted contact 7 in the fixed arm 6, which is settable by hand as usual. Between the forked portions of loose arm 3 is 'rotatably mounted a contact disc 1 having a series of circumferential contacts 2, 2 of varying radial projection, a selected one of which is settable in alinement with the abutting contact 7 as determined by operating engagement of a fixed-arm pawl 11 with a ratchet wheel 12 on the (1180.

Such turning'of the contact disc 1 on the loose arm 3, to successively aline its difi'erent-length peripheral contacts 2, 2 with the opposed contact 7 of the tight arm, is auto matically controlled by the action of determinedly positioned lugs 31 on the pattern chain 32; these lugs acting through a lever 35 upon a connected latch 28, which is arran (1 to normally support or release a hoe ed catch lever 26 (Fig. 2) pivoted upon the arm 23 fixed to shaft 4. When released this hooked lever is free to fall into engagement with a pin 27 on the presser lever 17, so that the outward swing of the latter, by cam 15, will impart a turning movement to the loop regulating shaft 4, against spring 6, and so move ti ht arm 6 away from the loose arm 3; there y carrying with it pawl 11 and turning the disc I so as to present a different peripheral contact 2 for abutment with contact 7 of the tight arm. Required disen agement of the catch lever 26 with the pin 27, and resetting of the latch 28, is controlled by a cam 25 on the cam shaft which is arranged to disengagingly tilt it as required. Catch lever 26, it will be understood, is weighted or spring tensioned to engage pin 27 when latch 28 permits, and said latch or lever 35 spring tensioned for action by pattern chain 32 as above described, such tensioning means being omitted from the drawings for simplification-of the showing.

It will be understood that in providing as thus fully set forth, for automatically varying the position of the cam-controlled loose arm 3 with relation to the fixed arm 6 as determined by the pattern chain 32, the lengths of the loops will be correspondingly varied during continuous operation of the machine and without troublesome and uncertain hand-adjustment of such relative positioning, while at the same time the main cooperating parts heretofore employed are utilized in known manner. Such specific con- .struction may be modified however without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the claims.

. What I claim is:

In a full fashioned knitting machine having a needle-bar presser lever and an operating shaft; a loop regulating mechanism said presser lever fixed to said shaft, and stop arm setting means comprising a cam-operated loose arm and a fixed shaft-rocker arm, adjustable means for relatively positioning said loose and rocker arms, and pattern-controlled means adapted to rock said shaft to automatically vary the relative positioning of said loose and rocker arms.

2. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a needle-bar presser lever and an operating shaft; a loop regulating mechanism comprising a regulating shaft, a stop arm for said presser lever fixed to said shaft, and stop arm setting means comprising a camoperated loose arm and a fiXedshaft-rocker arm, a rotatably mounted disc having a circular series of spacing contacts of varying radial projection adapted to vary the relative positioning of said loose and rocker arms, and pattern controlled means adapted to impart rotative movements of said disc from rocking movements of said regulator shaft.

3. In a full fashioned knitting machine having a needle-bar presser lever and an operating shaft; a loop regulating mechanism comprising aregulating shaft, a stop arm for said presser lever fixed to said shaft, and stop arm setting means comprising a camoperated loose arm and a fixed shaft-rocker arm, a rotatably mounted disc having a circular series of spacing contacts of varying radial projection adapted to vary the relative positioning of said loose and rocker arms, a ratchet connection to said disc adapted to impart a 'step-by-step rotation thereof and pattern controlled means for actuating said ratchet connection from rocking movement of said regulator shaft.

4. In a full fashioned knitting machine having a needle-bar presser lever and an operating shaft; a loop regulating mechanism comprising a regulating shaft, a stop arm for said presser lever fixed to said shaft, and stop arm setting means comprising a camoperated loose arm and a fixed shaft-rocker arm, a rotatably mounted disc having a circular series of spacing contacts of varying radial projection adapted to vary the relative positioning of said loose and rocker arms, a ratchet connection to said disc adapted to impart a step-by-step rotation thereof, presser lever actuated means for rocking said regulator shaft to actuate said ratchet connection, and pattern means controlling the shaft rocking movements of said presser lever.

5. In a full fashioned knitting machine having a needle-bar presser lever and an operating shaft; a loop regulating mechanism comprising a regulating shaft, a stop arm for said presser lever fixed to said shaft, and stop arm setting means comprising a cam-operated loose arm and a fixed shaftrocker arm, a rotatably mounted disc having a circular series of spacing contacts of varying radial projection adapted to vary the relative positioning of said loose and rocker arms, a ratchet connection ,to said disc adapted to impart a step-by-step rotation thereof, a cam operated catch adapted to engage and disengage said presser lever with said regulator shaft to rock the latter to actuate said ratchet connection, and a pattern controlled latch adapted to normally hold said catch disen aged from said presser lever.

6. In a ull fashioned knitting' machine having a needle-bar presser lever and an operating shaft; a loop regulating mechanism comprising a regulating shaft, a sto arm for said presser lever fixed to said sha and stop arm positioning means comprising a cam-operated loose arm carrying a variable contact member, a fixed shaft-rocker arm adapted to engage said variable contactmember, and means operated by said presser lever for varying sald contact member during continuous operation of the machme.

7. In a full fashioned knitting machine having a needle-bar presser lever and an operating shaft; a loop regulating mechanism comprising a regulating shaft, a stop arm for said presser lever fixed to said shaft, and stop arm positioning means comprising a camoperated loose arm carrying a rotatably mounted disc having a circular series of spacing contacts of varying radial projection, a fixed arm on said shaft havin a ratchet connection to said disc adapted y rocking movement of said regulator shaft to rotate said disc to position a contact for engagement of said fixed arm, and pattern controlled means for determinedly engaging said presser lever with said regulator shaft to rock the latter. a

8. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having a needle bar and a cam shaft, a loop length regulating mechanism comprising a cam-actuated presser arm for said needle bar, a rockable re lating shaft having a fixed stop arm for sai presser arm, a loose and a fixed arm on said regulating shaft having an adjustable contact engagement, a regulator cam on said cam shaft adapted to rock said shaft in accord with adjusted contact of said loose and fixed arms, and pattern controlled means fordetermined- 1y adjusting the contact of said loose and xed regulator shaft arms.

In testimony whereof I afiix m signature.

GUSTAV GA TRICH.

1,837,214.'Gustav Gatmh;

lwhich reads as followsr V .v th' a full fashioned knitting machine having a needle bar and-a:

. 5 if Gazette May 1 ,'193. 4

DI ed: ER

yomissing, Pa. LOOP REGULATI G MECHANISM-FOB.

KNITTING MACHINES. Patent dated December 22, 1931.'-' Disclaimer filed April 10, 1934, by the assignee, Textile Machine Works.

'Ente'rs'this disclaimer to the subject matter constituting 8 of the patent;

- In combination w1 shaft, a loop length regulating mechanism comprising a ,camractuated press'eii arm for said needle bar, a .rockable regulatin shaft havin a fixed stop armtfinflsaid pres'ser. arm,'a loose and a fixed arm on. em regulating s afthaving anj'adjustable contact engagement, aregulator cam on said camshaft adapted ,to. rock said shaft for determine y adjusting the contact of said loose -andgfixed lfegulator 's' accord with ad'usted contact of said loose and fixed arm, and pattern controlled means 

